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Preparing to defend Vick presents unique challenge

Recovering from knee surgery, Banks wasn't available this week. In fact, the Redskins had no one this week who could mimic Vick in practice -- one of many challenges posed by Philadelphia's talented signal-caller.

"We use our quarterbacks, and they do the best that they can," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said.

Haslett's teams have faced Vick nearly a dozen times over the years, and he knows as well as anyone there's no sure-fire way to contain Vick.

"First of all, everyone says, you put somebody on him. Well, you have to have somebody fast enough to catch him. That's the first thing," Haslett said. "You have to work in, have the right angles. There's a lot of things that go into it. I don't think you can sit there and put one guy on him and then deal with all the other guys."

Defensive coaches can't find linebackers quick enough to chase Vick, and they can't afford to devote a safety, such as LaRon Landry, to tailing the quarterback.

"Who's going to catch him? I don't know anybody. I don't think there's anybody that fast," Haslett said of linebackers. "You do that, you got backend issues. You've just got to be smart."

"I just know this, he can throw the thing about 75 yards in the air, so our safeties better be way back when he throws it," he noted.

Haslett has been impressed with Vick for several years. When he was in St. Louis and Vick was under suspension, he said he talked to Vick, and he also had discussions with Vick's agent last year when the quarterback was looking to return to football and Haslett coached the UFL's Florida Tuskers.

Found out Wed on Mike and Mike that Denzel Washington, just like LeBron the slimeminister James, is a sickening Cowboyz and Yankees fan! Also Lakers. Now, I can kind of understand the Yanks since he's from NY, I can even stretch the imagination and get to LA since he's there now. But how in THE hell did a city in Texas enter the equation?

Same with LBJ, never set foot in Texas outside of a game, probably couldn't find it on a map and never even saw a picture of cow dung! This kind rooting for whatever team is most popular with a history of winning, with little regard to location, loyalty or anything logical disgusts me!

I now see Denzel wetnoodle Washington in a totally different light, It will be highly difficult to watch this guy act in a movie. You might ask what difference it makes what sports teams he follows as to his movie career, likability or character? Well, there's just something about a slimy, interloping straphanger, clinging on to the popular pick like a weasel to a rat that I just loathe!

"Let's see, I'll just root for that team down yonder, they'll win and It'll make me look good as I poke out my chest." Disgusting!

don't use a spy on vick. Heard Steve Young talk about how other teams used to do that to him, and he loved it. Gave him more time to throw and more open WRs. Said it was like playing against just 10 defenders.

this is a Skins blog, im writing about the worst starting player on the Skins

this is football hate here and i hate casey rabach, he's terrible, im trying to get him outta here like i have been for the past 3-4 years

this is one of the only outlets to voice my opinion, so im damn well gonna use it to put rabach on blast and by the way im thrilled his teammates voted him captain, good for them, prolly the other bama a$$ lineman on the team minus t-dub

he still sucks and i still football hate him, it aint personal, it's just business

Am given to understand they tried to have Grossman immitate Vick, but Shanahan pulled the plug because RG8 didn't have enough cardio-respiratory endurance.

Then they tried to find someone (anyone) who could shadow and keep up with Vick -- but the only person they could come up with is Anthony Armstong -- who is already penciled in to play wide receiver, shag punts and kick returns, and keep track of the cheerleaders' pom poms.

Then there was the little matter of deep coverage -- in that Vick can throw the ball 75 yards on a dead run -- but there's apparently nobody on the team who can backpedal 75 yards in one go without tripping over their own feet. The only one who even came close was Carlos Rogers -- but he is a sucker for the double move and couldn't catch a cold if you spotted him bare feet and bucket of ice water.

So Coach Shanahan finally decreed that he might just make another game time decision -- and activate Mighty Mouse (Brandon Banks) to do it all.

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